28 October 2020

We, the undersigned companies and organisations, are aware that the European Union may resume trade negotiations with Thailand. We urge the EU to require Thailand to commit to a set of robust human rights conditions prior to restarting negotiations. The EU has pledged to place respect for human rights at the core of its trade policy. It is crucial to ensure that the benefits of global trade do not come at the expense of workers or without guarantees that their fundamental rights are respected.

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Given Thailand’s track record, the EU must require, as part of the prenegotiating phase, a clearly defined, enforceable and time-bound roadmap for Thailand to undertake the following legal reforms before trade negotiations are restarted.

1. Ratify ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining and bring domestic labour laws in compliance with these conventions.

2. Reform the Labour Relations Act and the State Enterprise Labour Relations Act to allow all workers, without distinction, the right to organise, to collectively bargain, and to strike, with legal protection.

3. Decriminalise defamation under both the Penal Code and Computer Crimes Act and enact anti-Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) legislation to ensure that workers and human rights defenders are not subjected to criminal or civil liability for exercising rights to freedom of expression and speaking out about labour rights abuse.

4. Ensure that trade unions and worker organisations have a significant and meaningful role in monitoring the implementation of new laws.

The Thai translation of the Letter is available here.